Thoughts on Being a Musician
A few weeks back, I was going into the day surgery to get 3 wisdom teeth removed and the anaesthetist must have read my form stating that my occupation was a concert organiser. He was making conversation with me to put me at ease and said "So, you're a musician..." And I went on to say "Well, sort of. I play the violin in a community orchestra and I compose a bit but I organise classical music concerts mainly." And when I told Matthew this, he was a bit perturbed. He said "Honey, you ARE a musician!" I struggle with this, you see.
On Tuesday night though, I spent my first orchestral rehearsal as the leader (as Emilie is on leave having just had little Phoebe - w00!). I actually did alright! Sitting in that chair, on the outside of the orchestra, with no-one else to follow (except the conductor, heheh), made me take some charge and concentrate harder on counting and coming in at the right time. Missing a few notes here and there wasn't so bad. When I'm practising in the bedroom, it all seems so dire but at orchestra, there's still a whole orchestra there playing if you've missed a note!
Last night I decided that I could take a break from my orchestra music cos it seemed under control enough, and I went back to practising my part for the Bach Double Violin Concerto and I seemed to have improved as a violinist in general. I know this shouldn't be surprising as I've stepped up from 2 half-hour practise sessions a week to 3-4 45-minute practise sessions a week, panicked at the prospect of leading the orchestra and playing a solo; but I remain surprised and rather pleased :)
Composing wise, I'm looking forward to a study session with Joon on the w'end. I've been down on myself for getting so little composing done. I decided to kick off my Masters with the song cycle using poems in English, German and now one in French, and moving on to an Italian one. I spent time studying for each song so that I could best capture the style of the language and culture. This takes time!! Granted it shouldn't take 3 years :P but I'm starting to just enjoy my musical life and do what I feel like so that I'm not motivated by guilt but actual joy.
So I'm studying French songs at the moment. I love listening to them but the style of it is so unlike my composing style but I definitely want to capture the aspects of French songs. They tend to have this wafting nature without a traditional sense of phrasing.
I'm even listening to ABC Classic FM instead of Nova at work this week :P
In other news, the clarinet teacher at uni suggested that I submit a clarinet piece I wrote and he heard, to the AMEB (Australian Music Examinations Board) to include in their syllabus which I thought was great. Unfortunately the decided the new syllabus months back so it will be a few years before they change it again but I'm sending it in anyway as there are other purposes they can use it for.
At work, the students are back so I feel more purposeful. I'm currently compiling a list of people of influence to invite to our major concerts so yay! It makes sense to invite the people who will be employing our students in the future. I definately want to help other musicians, too, of course.
So yes, I'm a musician.
On Tuesday night though, I spent my first orchestral rehearsal as the leader (as Emilie is on leave having just had little Phoebe - w00!). I actually did alright! Sitting in that chair, on the outside of the orchestra, with no-one else to follow (except the conductor, heheh), made me take some charge and concentrate harder on counting and coming in at the right time. Missing a few notes here and there wasn't so bad. When I'm practising in the bedroom, it all seems so dire but at orchestra, there's still a whole orchestra there playing if you've missed a note!
Last night I decided that I could take a break from my orchestra music cos it seemed under control enough, and I went back to practising my part for the Bach Double Violin Concerto and I seemed to have improved as a violinist in general. I know this shouldn't be surprising as I've stepped up from 2 half-hour practise sessions a week to 3-4 45-minute practise sessions a week, panicked at the prospect of leading the orchestra and playing a solo; but I remain surprised and rather pleased :)
Composing wise, I'm looking forward to a study session with Joon on the w'end. I've been down on myself for getting so little composing done. I decided to kick off my Masters with the song cycle using poems in English, German and now one in French, and moving on to an Italian one. I spent time studying for each song so that I could best capture the style of the language and culture. This takes time!! Granted it shouldn't take 3 years :P but I'm starting to just enjoy my musical life and do what I feel like so that I'm not motivated by guilt but actual joy.
So I'm studying French songs at the moment. I love listening to them but the style of it is so unlike my composing style but I definitely want to capture the aspects of French songs. They tend to have this wafting nature without a traditional sense of phrasing.
I'm even listening to ABC Classic FM instead of Nova at work this week :P
In other news, the clarinet teacher at uni suggested that I submit a clarinet piece I wrote and he heard, to the AMEB (Australian Music Examinations Board) to include in their syllabus which I thought was great. Unfortunately the decided the new syllabus months back so it will be a few years before they change it again but I'm sending it in anyway as there are other purposes they can use it for.
At work, the students are back so I feel more purposeful. I'm currently compiling a list of people of influence to invite to our major concerts so yay! It makes sense to invite the people who will be employing our students in the future. I definately want to help other musicians, too, of course.
So yes, I'm a musician.